On Etiquette

While I was visiting some friends on their at-home day, two young ladies entered the salon during our hostess's absence, so we stood to greet them and invited them to

sit. They had barely been there a moment when the mistress of the house came in; one of them stood to greet her, while the other remained seated. A wave of astonishment passed over the faces of those present. The girl who had kept her

seat noticed that it was directed at her, and said to her companion in a low voice, trying to justify her position: “Why did you stand up when the lady came in? Don't you know that in today's civilized world a woman does not stand to greet others? You should have greeted her while sitting in your place.”

Her companion, overcome with embarrassment, answered: “But this lady is our friend's mother and the mistress of the house!” The “civilized” companion, however, was not convinced by this feeble logic, and shook her head like one whose patience was worn thin.

This simple scene caught my attention and pained me greatly, because I was sure the girl merely wanted to show herself off as refined, while the other girl felt that the rule did not apply in such a circumstance. So I wanted to sound out the opinion of the others on such behavior, to see how ready our countrymen are to accept a custom of this kind. Before I could utter a word, one of the young men present surprised me by saying: “Which of the two girls behaved properly, in your view — according, of course, to the rules of social etiquette?” I answered: “What do you think, as a young man of her own generation?”

He replied: “I prefer that the girl rise in such a circumstance.” The company awoke to the importance of the subject, and a lengthy discussion of this social problem followed, in which we took up most of the cases in which a woman must rise. Various groups took part in giving their opinions — conser-vative and progressive, represent-ing both sexes — and it was an enjoyable discussion, whose chief points I should like to lay before the readers of The Woman's Voice.

We all agreed that there is no general rule on which a woman can rely in every situation; but there are certain rules that she is bound to observe, for the sake of propriety and out of regard for the feelings of others.